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New York Knicks: Five players who must step up without Kristaps Porzingis

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 31: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 25: Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 25: Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on January 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

5. Trey Burke

The New York Knicks desperately need a playmaker who can go isolation for consistent penetration. Tim Hardaway Jr. is capable of taking his man off the bounce, but with a score-first mentality, he isn’t exactly creating opportunities for his teammates.

With what’s likely to be his brightest green light yet, Trey Burke will have an opportunity to prove that he has long-term value to the Knicks.

Burke has been exceptional when head coach Jeff Hornacek has trusted him with the ball. He’s scored in double figures in three of the six games during which he’s received at least 15 minutes, including a stretch of back-to-back 18-point performances.

Burke also dished out 11 assists against the Denver Nuggets, thus displaying his ability to create for others off of drives—an otherwise missing strength.

Burke is currently averaging 8.2 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 rebounds in just 14.3 minutes per game. Those numbers translate to 20.6 points, 7.8 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per 36—albeit in a small sample size of 10 games played.

Burke doesn’t need to average 20 points per game, but he has a chance to earn a longer tenure by playing well the rest of the season.

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